The process of allowing plants to gently transition from their cozy windowsills, greenhouses, grow lights and heating mats into the harsh fluctuating environment of outdoors.

It seems too early here in the interior of B.C. to begin carrying our trays of plants and seedlings outside in the day and back inside at night. However, I have hardy annuals that I think might be ready. These are the plants that will tolerate minimal frost. The Brassicas, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and kale will all tolerate frost but they need to be introduced gently. Lettuce, chard and peas are other crops that actually prefer cooler temperatures. So when to put them out?

I am going to start taking a few of my hardy flowering annuals out and putting in a sheltered semi shady place during the day. They will be returned to the greenhouse at night. After a five or six days I will leave them out overnight and then a few days after that they will be planted in their spot in the garden. If I am nervous about frost I may not put them all out. Hedging your bets is a safe way to go.

Now into late April is a good time to seed cool weather crops outdoors if you have not started them indoors. The greenhouses are now carrying seedling starts of most vegetable crops and some flowering annuals.

Everything has been warmer on average this winter despite erratic cold plunges and no doubt we can continue to expect strange weather patterns so being prepared is key. When hardening plant starts off outside, it is best to avoid direct sunlight and windy locations. If the babies are in direct sunlight the sudden warmth can cause them to wilt and the sudden shock might set them back. Likewise with wind. Wind whisks away moisture and if the plants transpire too much that shock will also set them back. Slow and gentle is important.

Once the plunge has been taken and the young plants are in their final home for the summer, having lightweight covering handy is a good plan. If a frost is suddenly predicted, row cover, Remay or an old light sheet can be thrown over the plants to protect them. Hail also can be damaging, so the handy row covers should stay around just in case.

If any plant is inside a greenhouse when purchased, even if it is a shrub or perennial, it needs to be gently hardened off before permanently planted, in order for it to become accustomed to an outside environment.